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Consideration of and action on adopting an ordinance for a cross-connection (backflow) control program and revising the Appendix B - Fee Schedule.
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Summary: The Public Works Department has partnered with Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI) Online for backflow test report submittal. When drinking water piping connects to various plumbing fixtures or water utilizing equipment a cross-connection is created. If improperly protected, contamination can result when a backflow event occurs; allowing contaminates to reverse flow from the fixture/equipment back into the drinking water piping.
Conditions that are likely to create a backflow event are typically common, but unfavorable, hydraulic events that occur within the public or private segments of the water distribution system such as: an owner or worker draining down a house or building to make a plumbing repair; a broken water main or distribution pipe; severe/widespread power outages; fire fighters using large quantities of water to extinguish a fire, or; a water utilizing piece of equipment or process creating pressures greater than those present in water distribution system.
When these unfavorable hydraulic events are occurring, contaminates can be back-siphoned into the drinking water due to negative pressures; or contaminates can back-pressured into the drinking water due to excessive pressure imposed by the water utilizing piece of equipment or process.
Modern plumbing fixtures generally have built-in backflow protection. Therefore around the home and office, for the most part, standard plumbing fixtures do not present a hazardous condition. There are, however, numerous applications within commercial and industrial processes that require additional protection. Therefore, directly connected water piping requires a different method of protection which is the backflow preventer. A backflow preventer is a "one-way" appurtenance (an assembly of check valves or a vacuum breaker), that allows water to fl...
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